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A Lesson on The Astronaut's Diary Export Lesson as PDF | Save As Favorite
A Lesson on The Astronaut's Diary Grade: Grade 4
Subject: English Language Arts
Created by: Lauren Hager
Lesson Length: 1 hour 30 minutes
Keywords/Tags: Astronaut, Space, Vocabulary, Reading, Critical Thinking
Lesson Description: Read the short story called "The Astronaut's Diary" then answer vocabulary questions, followed by a class discussion, and then complete the final writing assignment.
Common Core Standards Covered with This Lesson
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.4.1: Refer to details and examples in a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.4.1: Refer to details and examples in a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.4.4: Determine the meaning of general academic and domain-specific words or phrases in a text relevant to a grade 4 topic or subject area.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RF.4.4: Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.1: Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons and information.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.1a: Introduce a topic or text clearly, state an opinion, and create an organizational structure in which related ideas are grouped to support the writer’s purpose.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.1c: Link opinion and reasons using words and phrases (e.g., for instance, in order to, in addition).
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.4: Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development and organization are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience. (Grade-specific expectations for writing types are defined in standards 1–3 above.)
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.4.1b: Follow agreed-upon rules for discussions and carry out assigned roles.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.4.1c: Pose and respond to specific questions to clarify or follow up on information, and make comments that contribute to the discussion and link to the remarks of others.
 
     
     
 
Lesson Content: Reading
Instructions: Please read the following reading passage as many times as needed (aloud and silent) before starting to go through other lesson pages. Understanding the content of this passage is very important since the lesson activities will be all about this content. Feel free to print the passage if needed.

The Astronaut's Diary

We were exhausted from all the work. We slept in shifts. One of us had to be awake all the time. There was so much work to do.

Finally, we got to our destination. We had reached the space station. There, we would do more work, but we would have less pressure. We had so much to do every day on our ship. Now there would be mo re people to help us. We would be on a collaborative team. We would be able to share the work.

When we moved into the space station, I felt great. There was so much more space. We would have real beds to sleep in. We would have better food. They had a garden on the space station. They grew vegetables.

The six astronauts on the space station were happy to see us. They said, “We have been waiting for you.” We were glad to see them, too. We had been worried. We heard that one of them had been sick.

We asked how she was feeling. She said she was better now. It had been a cold. We were relieved. We could stop worrying now.

That first night on the space station wa s great. We had good food. We had a good dinner. Then we were going to sleep. But one of the astronauts said, “We need to give you a job. Each person has to take turns staying awake. Here is the schedule.” So I had a shift again.

I saw I was first. I would have to stay awake tonight. I was disappointed. I felt fatigued. I had been awake and work ing for 20 hours. But I knew it was my duty. So I sighed and said, “See you in the morning.”

I became an astronaut so that I could travel in space. Now I’m here. It is hard work. It’s even more challenging than I expected.
 
     
     
 
Task 1: Vocabulary Activity (40 points)
Instructions: Please complete the following vocabulary activity by choosing the correct meaning of each word selected from the passage and use of each word correctly in a sentence.
Vocabulary Questions
Word/Phrase: Destination | Tier: 3 | Points: 10
Q1 When the author says "Finally, we have reached our destination." What does the author mean by destination?
A. The name of their spaceship
B. The place you are traveling to *
C. A planet
D. A type of food
Which one of the sentences uses the word "destination" correctly?
A. I parked my destination and walked into the store.
B. We bought a new destination at the pet store today!
C. After the long drive, we finally reached our destination. *
D. Mom and I cooked a big destination for dinner last night.
Word/Phrase: I was disappointed. | Tier: 3 | Points: 10
Q2 In this sentence the author said, "I was disappointed". What did the author mean by disappointed?
A. Happy
B. Tired
C. Upset *
D. Funny
Which ones of the sentences below uses the word "disappointed" correctly?
A. After a long day, I was disappointed.
B. My sister turned disappointed last month.
C. The school was disappointed.
D. I was disappointed I slept through my alarm this morning. *
Word/Phrase: They grew vegetables. | Tier: 2 | Points: 10
Q3 In the sentence "They grew vegetables." What does the author mean by grew?
A. Got bigger. *
B. Got smaller.
C. Cooked.
D. Watched.
In which sentence is the word grew used correctly?
A. The meatloaf grew in the oven.
B. The football grew when I threw it.
C. The house grew when it rained.
D. The puppy grew into a dog. *
Word/Phrase: We were relieved. | Tier: 2 | Points: 10
Q4 What is meant by the word relieved in this sentence from the story "We were relieved."
A. We were sad.
B. We were happy. *
C. We were confused.
D. We were scared.
Which one of the sentences below uses the word "relieved" correctly?
A. We relieved a new car.
B. My dad and I relieved the football game on TV.
C. My mom relieved dinner.
D. I was relieved when I passed the test. *
Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.4.1, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.4.4, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RF.4.4,
 
     
     
 
Task 2: Discussion Activity (30 points)
Instructions: This discussion forum will have questions for students to respond. Read the posted questions, and respond to each. Students are responsible for posting one initial and and two peer responses for each topic.
  Topic Title Replies
Message In the beginning of the passage, the first sentence from the author states "We were exhausted from all the work."
What type of 'work' do you think Astronauts do to make them feel this way?
Sent on: Oct 4, 2016 by: Lauren Hager		 0
Message That first night on the space station was great... But one of the astronauts said, “We need to give you a job."
What types of 'jobs' do you think there are to do on the space station?
Sent on: Oct 4, 2016 by: Lauren Hager		 0
Message The last line of the diary entry, the author states "I became an astronaut so that I could travel in space."
What do you think space looks like? If you were traveling through space, what types of things would you see?
Sent on: Oct 4, 2016 by: Lauren Hager		 0
Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.4.1, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.4.1b, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.4.1c,
 
     
     
 
Task 3: Writing Activity (30 points)
Instructions: From the information provided from this diary entry, what do you think two positive things and two negative things would be about being an astronaunt? Please elaborate and provide specific examples. 250 word essay.
Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.1, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.1a, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.1c, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.4,
 
     

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